Camp Staff

Kevin Garrity is a native of Southern California, having grown up in La Verne with time spent in both Orange County and Los Angeles County. He holds a BA in Journalism from the University of La Verne, where he also played collegiate baseball, and an MA in Political Science from Claremont Graduate University. Kevin brings with him twelve years of experience in the nonprofit sector, having held various roles at the Scleroderma Foundation, Orange County United Way, and most recently, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. His expertise in fundraising, corporate development, major gifts, and new business development has been instrumental in advancing the missions of these organizations.

Kevin's career has been marked by a deep commitment to making a positive impact on individuals, families, and caregivers during their times of greatest need. This dedication to mission-driven work has led him to Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times, where he looks forward to continuing this impactful journey. Kevin and his wife, Jessica, recently moved to Sierra Madre as they prepare to welcome their first child in November. In his spare time, Kevin enjoys outdoor activities such as camping and hiking, is an avid LA sports fan, and loves to read, play golf, and spend time with family.

Chad joined the organization in 2005 as Program Director and has since become Camp Director. Chad’s arrival at Camp Ronald McDonald didn’t follow the “typical” Camp career path.   Chad was born and raised in Carrollton, GA. He attended the University of Georgia where he graduated with a B.S. in Computer Science and a B.A. in Political Science.Upon graduation, Chad went to work for the Department of Defense at the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Dahlgren, VA. His work for the DOD took him to Kirkland Airforce Base in Albuquerque, NM for a year where he initially learned of Camp Ronald McDonald. Chad volunteered for the first time as a counselor at Camp in 2002, fell in love with the community, and continued to volunteer until offered a full-time job with Camp in 2005.

As Camp Director, Chad currently oversees all aspects of the Camp Programs including camper recruitment & relations; volunteer recruitment, hiring, & training; and program creation & execution. Chad is involved in the American Camp Association (ACA) serving as the chari for the Local Council of Leaders for the Southern California / Hawaii region, a Standards visitor for ACA, and an instructor for the ACA New Director Orientation class. Chad’s love for being in the mountains and in nature is only exceeded by the love he has for his wife, Mel, whom he first met while both were volunteering at Camp, and his kids, Josie & Owen - who love Camp just as much as mom & dad!

Preston joined our organization after nearly 15 years of service with various camps around the country. His roles varied from Waterfront Director, Operations Director to Executive Director. The facilities he has managed span from the beaches of San Diego (YMCA Camp Surf) to the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon (YMCA Camp Collins) all the way to JT’s Camp Grom in Virginia Beach where he served as Executive Director at the purpose-built facility to serve people of all abilities, wounded warriors and gold start families. Originally from coastal Alabama, he attended business school at the University of South Alabama and found his love for camp during a summer away at YMCA Camp Colman, in Washington, teaching outdoor education and water safety skills. This soiree into the camp world changed his course of focus and he has been working to impact change in his communities ever since.

As the Operations Director, Preston works to build and improve our physical structures and systems daily in order to create a site that can best serve its mission of offering life-changing experiences in nature. His ultimate goal is to have a facility that can foster these mission driven experiences, year-round, to as many participants as there are spaces.

Preston’s passions outside of camp include hiking, kayaking, camping and woodworking. On his days off he can most often be found exploring national forests, reading next to a body of water or hiking mountain trails with his dog Remy.

Nicole brings over 25 years of experience in non-profit fundraising with a passion for cultivating meaningful relationships and driving impactful initiatives.  She is thrilled and honored to come home to Camp as she formerly served as the Camp Events Manager six years ago.  Nicole most recently served as the Senior Director of Development at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles, shepherding them into unprecedented fundraising success during her tenure. 

As Nicole steps into her role at Camp, she is guided by the belief that every act of giving, no matter how small, has the power to make a difference. She is excited to continue her journey at Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times, where she looks forward to making an impact and fostering a continued sense of community and joy.

Nicole is deeply committed to helping donors and supporters recognize the true importance and impact of their contributions. She believes in the power of philanthropy to transform lives and communities, a sentiment that drives her work.

Nicole shares: "In giving, we receive far more than we could ever imagine. It's not just about making a donation; it's about making a difference. Together, we can ensure every child that wants to, has the opportunity to thrive and experience the magic of Camp.”

In her free time, Nicole loves spending quality time with her teenage daughter and cherished friends. An advocate for both physical and mental well-being, she enjoys weight training and playing on her soccer team.

Shannon started with Camp as a volunteer in 2006 and worked three summers as a Seasonal Staff member before joining the full-time staff in 2017 as our Program Associate. In addition to helping implement the current Camp programs, Shannon works year-round with our Wilderness Outdoor Leadership Program (WOLP), Alumni Development program and manages all Volunteer recriutment and registration. Shannon comes to Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times with a background in camping and youth development. They spent 7 years working with the YMCA Camps Tulequoia and Sequoia Lake, including two years as Youth Camp Director at Sequoia Lake.  Through their time with the Y and Camp Ronald McDonald, Shannon has developed an extensive skill set in camping and a passion for camping as a modalidy for youth development.  In addition, Shannon is a standard and accrediation visitor with the American Camp Association and recieved a Service Award from ACA So Cal/Hawaii for their work support ACA online conferences.   Shannon enjoys spending free time with their Patner & two dogs, reading, car camping & spending time with family. 

Elias started his Ronald McDonald House Charities journey by volunteering at Camp each Spring with the University of Redlands Football Team from 2016-2019. From there he served as summer facility staff in 2019 & 2022 becoming a full-time staff member in September 2022 as our Operations Associate – Facilities on the Campgrounds.

Elias was born and raised in Santa Monica, California where he spent most of his time enjoying the beach and playing Football. He played Football since he was 7 years old and eventually worked his way to playing at the collegiate level for the University of Redlands. He graduated from the University in 2020 with a BA in Psychology. He is an avid sports fan spending most of his time watching basketball where he shows true to his hometown team the Los Angeles Lakers. He has settled into Camp life where he looks forward to his time and actively pursuing new adventures with RMHCSC, even earning himself the camp nickname of “Crouton.”

Born and raised in the San Fernando Valley, Waldemar “Wally” Quijano is a proud product of LAUSD public schooling. Being the first generation born and first in his family to attend and graduate University, he has had to work hard to succeed. He graduated from California State University Northridge with a bachelor’s degree in Music Education.  In fact, music is one of Wally’s deep passions.  One of the proudest moments in his musical career was leading the LAUSD All City Honor Marching Band in the 2009 Rose Parade.

While in school he worked for Keep Youth Doing Something (“KYDS”), a local non-profit that provides afterschool programming to at-risk youth in LAUSD. As a KYDS Site Manager for his Alma Mater, Arleta High School, he focused on providing quality programming to his students. From teaching music to establishing courses that were diverse. His central focus was to also create a safe place where students from all backgrounds could come in and further their education and self-expression.

In tandem with working at KYDS, he became a Volunteer Counselor with Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times (“Camp”) in 2013. Soon after, Wally decided to take on a more supportive role and became a Unit Director to help guide and aide counselors at Camp. Wanting to learn and help more, he continued to expand his learning by also training in Camp’s adventure course.  Wally is overjoyed to now work full time as Camp Ronald McDonald’s Administrative Coordinator and aims to take his years of experience both in and outside of the Camp community to support and grow Camp’s ever-evolving priorities to meet our mission.

Javier Reyes is the new Development Associate for Camp at RMHCSC. 

Javier previously worked for the YMCA of Orange Country for 8 years. Starting as a soccer coach and eventually moving up the ranks to Program Lead, Coordinator, and Program Director. Javier's Santa Ana YMCA branch was awarded "2020 Branch of the Year" & his Sports Department was ranked #2 within all program in YMCA of Orange County. 

Javier is a powerful force in the workplace and he uses his positive attitude and tireless energy to give his best daily. Javier is ready to help anywhere it is needed with no hesitation. Javier likes to spend time at the beach, hiking, camping, and watching/playing soccer in his free time. 

Samantha Solis graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles with a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Biology and Society with an emphasis in Medicine and Public Health. While completing her undergraduate degree, Samantha received the opportunity to Intern for Camp, where she assisted and learned from Camp’s Social Media, Development, and Event Team. Having the experience of being an Intern and volunteer for Camp was a pivotal experience for her. It ignited her love for Camp and sparked her interest in non-profit work.

Samantha is overjoyed to continue and expand her involvement in Camp. She is grateful to be given the opportunity to start her professional career with such an incredible organization. In her spare time, Samantha enjoys spending time outdoors with her family and friends, reading, and trying different local coffee shops.

Sandy Navarro holds a BA in English from San Jose State University and an MFA in Creative Writing from Mount Saint Mary's University. Her journey in the non-profit sector began with a literacy organization in San Jose, where she developed a deep passion for community work. She is now thrilled to embark on her new role at Camp.

In her leisure time, Sandy enjoys reading, writing, and exploring new coffee shops. She is also a proud first-time dog mom who loves hiking and taking long walks with her furry companion.

Hanna is a Chicago native who holds a BS in Electrical Engineering and is a certified Engineer-in-Training. She worked in the engineering consulting field for nearly a decade, gaining expertise in the design of airfield electrical systems and power systems for commercial spaces.

Hanna’s journey with Camp began as a volunteer in 2016, where she soon found herself deeply connected to Camp’s mission and community. After working one summer as a Seasonal Staff member, she transitioned to a full-time role in June 2024 as our Operations Manager – Program. Hanna is thrilled to bring her skills and loving energy to the team and is dedicated to making a meaningful impact in the community.

In her free time, Hanna enjoys cooking, brewing chai, traveling, and spending quality time with her family and friends.

Brian joined Camp in 1988 as Camp Director. Brian oversaw facility development & operations and worked closely with the Camp program team. In addition to his CRM responsibilities, Brian was a faculty lecturer at California State University, Long Beach, Department of Recreational and Leisure Services in the fields of outdoor recreation and organized camp management. In addition, Brian served on the National Board of the American Camp Association (ACA), a Standards Visitor for ACA, chair of the National Council of Leaders Steering Committee; was the past-president and a board member of Children’s Oncology Camp Association International (COCA- I) strengthening over 120 international camps serving over 35,000 pediatric oncology campers and their families. Brian’s passion for research led to co-authoring papers on the Psychological Impacts of a Camp Experience for Children with Cancer and the Camp Awareness Project, a multi-facility study assessing the value of a camp experience with healthcare professionals and unserved patient families. Brian was married to wife and best friend, Corrie, was father to three grown daughters and was known for his love of Diet Coke.